Car Insurance Quote Teen

Teenage drivers tend to be inexperienced and may not make the same decisions that a more experienced driver would on the road.  Since teenagers are more prone to having car accidents, their insurance rates are usually higher. 

Teen Driver Insurance

Teenagers are not the only age group that can suffer from high insurance rates.  In most cases, insurance companies consider anyone under the age of 25 to be more at risk for getting in an accident than others.  The younger and less experienced the driver is, the more insurance is going to cost.  Teens can often expect to pay rates anywhere from 50 to 100 percent higher than normal.  However, there are ways for teens and their parents to still save some money on car insurance.

By following a number of tips, teen drivers can save money on their car insurance.  The first important thing to do is not get into trouble on the road.  This includes speeding tickets, moving violations and DUIs.  A DUI can cause a teen's insurance premiums to go up tremendously, possibly as much as thousands of dollars a year.  While sometimes accidents happen, being a safe driver will also prevent your insurance from going up.

Teen drivers can also earn discounts if they attend school and get good grades.  Discounts may also be offered by insurance companies to teens that attend driver safety courses.  Working with community groups like the Boy Scouts can earn discounts since insurance companies like to insure teens that have low risk behaviors and are not out getting into trouble, particularly behind the wheel of a car.

Driving a safe car is also a good way to save money on car insurance premiums.  Newer cars with safety features such as airbags and anti-lock breaks often cost less to insure.  Cars with smaller engines and lower speeds also cost less.  Expensive and high-performance cars cost more to ensure because they are capable of very high speeds and are considered to be less safe, especially in the hands of an inexperienced driver.  Additional safety features in cars, such as traction control and side air bags, can also reduce the cost of insurance premiums. 

Safe Driving

It is very important to follow certain rules when driving.  By abiding by these rules, they can keep themselves and others safe while keeping their car insurance payments as low as possible.

Teens driving with passengers are at a higher risk to have an accident than if they are driving alone.  The distractions caused by additional people in the car may be too much for a driver that doesn't have much experience driving.  Speeding is another common mistake made by teen drivers.  Speeding is also the main cause of teen driving accidents.  The best thing to do is to not go over the posted speed limits on any given road.  Cell phones are also another common cause of accidents for teen drivers.  Teens should never talk or text on their phone while driving.  An accident caused by this will result in hiring insurance rates.  All drivers, not just teens, should always wear a seat belt when riding in a car.  Not only could this save you in an accident, but police officers can issue fines to drivers and passengers for not wearing a seat belt.

Parent Insurance vs. Your Own

Many teen drivers will stay on their parents' insurance policy when they start driving.  This usually costs less than if a teenager gets their own insurance.  Parents also get discounts for things like credit history and home ownership, as well as having more than one car on a policy.  Group policies can also yield additional discounts on insurance.  If the parents have good driving records, they will also pay less and can outweigh accidents by a teen driver.  Another plus for a teen being on their parents' insurance policy is that the parent may pay most or all of their premium.

If a teen driver does not want to be included on their parents' insurance policy, they have the option of buying their own insurance.  The teen can choose what coverages they want and don't have to go with what their parents have or want.  The downside to a teen getting their own insurance is that their rates will probably be higher than if they were on their parents' policy.  A teen will also need to pay their policy on time to avoid a lapse in coverage.  Some insurance companies will also not insure drivers under the age of 18.  Very young drivers may not have the option to buy their own insurance.

Teen drivers can get car insurance quotes on many insurance company websites.  There are also comparison tools online to help decide on which policy works best for them.  In the end, most teen drivers end up staying on their parents' coverage plan.